Albania; No, but ... |
Possession
Sale
Transport
Cultivation
all Illegal >
In spite of laws prohibiting growing and possessing cannabis,
enforcement has been virtually none. There have been fewer than ten arrests in five years.
Learn more >>

Argentina; No, but ... |
Personal possession of controlled substances has been decriminalized, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling in 2009 that found imposing jail time for small amounts of drugs was a violation of Argentina's constitution, which protects private actions that don't harm others. Lawmakers have been working to amend the law since then, with proposals ranging from simple decriminalization in accordance with the ruling to a complete overhaul of the country's drug laws.
In December, Father Juan Carlos Molina, a Catholic priest newly appointed as the nation's drug czar, said Argentina deserves a debate about whether to follow Uruguay in regulating marijuana.
Learn more >>

Austria, Yes |
Both Delta9-THC and pharmaceutical preparations containing Delta9-THC are listed in annex IV of the Austrian Narcotics Decree (Suchtgiftverordnung). Compendial formulations are manufactured upon prescription according to the German Neues Rezeptur-Formularium.
On July 9, 2008 the Austrian Parliament approved cannabis cultivation for scientific and medical uses. Cannabis cultivation is controlled by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit, AGES).
Officially, Possession (which includes the act of smoking) is punishable by prison time of up to 1 year (option of alternative therapy and subsequent waiving of sentence) If it was possessed for personal use the penalty is only up to half a year.
Yet, In the main cities of the country (such as Innsbruck, Graz) and especially Vienna it is possible to find hemp-shops which are allowed to sell cannabis-seeds, plants and tools for cultivation. Cannabis consumption is widely tolerated through most Austrians.
Learn more >>

Belgium; No, but ... |
Though the drug is still illegal, the Belgian government has recently initiated trials to determine the effectiveness of medical cannabis. There have been changes in laws in the past 10–15 years that create a stage of 'tolerance' toward the possession of small amounts of cannabis. This means police officers are not doing something unlawful when not punishing cannabis users for possession of a small amount of cannabis (up to 3 grams) or one female plant.
It still being illegal, it is then ultimately the police-officer in question who may decide to give the cannabis back to the user and let him go (probably with a verbal warning).
No amount of cannabis is legal to possess in Belgium, however possession of up to 3g of cannabis by adults, for personal use, is tolerated.
Learn more >>

Brazil, No |
Cannabis sativa is listed as a controlled substance, making the plant
and all of its parts illegal to cultivate, distribute, or possess.
Learn more >>

Bulgaria, No |
Cannabis is included in Schedule no. 1
of Bulgaria's Drugs and Precursors Control Act.
Learn more >>

Cameroon, Yes |
Growing cannabis for any reason is illegal, though AIDS and cancer
patients are allowed to use the drug to treat their symptoms.
Learn more >>

Croatia, No |
Possession of small amounts of cannabis can result in fines ($500-1000 US), mandatory rehab, and condtional sentencing (probation). Cultivation and sale of cannabis are punishable by imprisonment (3 or
more years). Driving under the influence of cannabis (as detected by saliva field tests) may lead to fine, rehab, and loss of license.
Learn more >>

Cyprus, No |
Cannabis (marijuana) is Illegal, a Class B substance – life imprisonment is possible for use and maximum 8 years for possession (maximum 2 yrs for first offence for under 25 yr old).
In practice, warning may be given to a minor unconscious first offender.
Learn more >>

Czech Republic, Yes |
In March, 2008 the Czech Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a medical cannabis grower, finding that growing cannabis is not necessarily "illegal production". While cannabis is still illegal to
possess, use, and produce under Czech law, this ruling is expected to influence the way drug laws are interpreted by lower courts.
Learn more >>

Estonia, No |
Cannabis is prohibited. According to joh, "Seeds are legal to sell but
illegal to import and export." (unconfirmed) (thanks JOH)
Learn more >>

Finland |
Yes ... sort of >>
Extremely limited group of medicinal users (12 people as of 31 January 2010) are permitted to purchase Sativex mouth spray from one special pharmacy in the city of Turku.
Learn more >>

Greece, No |
Cannabis is controlled in Greece
and illegal to grow or possess.
Learn more >>

GUATEMALA |
Currently, prison terms of four months to two years can be imposed for the possession of drugs for personal use.
President Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala, a hard-hit cocaine transit country, took the floor at the U.N. last fall to join a growing chorus of nations calling the drug war a failed strategy.
He announced that his country would study different approaches and praised the "visionary" experiments in Washington and Colorado as well as U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to let them go forward.
Learn more >>

Hong Kong, No |
Possession, cultivation, sale, and import of cannabis is forbidden by the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (06/30/1997).
Any offense is punishable by a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 15 years.
Learn more >>

India, Yes ... sort of |
Although India has a long history of the use of Cannabis, including involvement with religious traditions, it is illegal to grow or
possess. In some areas, cannabis use is openly ignored by authorities, particularly during the festivals of Holi and ShivaRati.
Learn more >>

Ireland, No |
Under Irish law
cannabis is not recognized as having any medical benefits.
Learn more >>

Bottom line is, no over-riding Global law allowing cannabis (marijuana) for medical purposes or otherwise, so (!) ...

Laws, rules and regulations will vary - and with them your ability to travel around the world, consume or even find resources to buy/sell/trade - so you'll need to check them out region-by-region and country-by-country.
See Map and List below.
( medi-tourism, medi-migration/immigration )

Our Info, by Country - What's Yours? Post It!

Where in the World is Cannabis Medical? The Good, the Bad and et al.

America, United States of (USA), Yes and No ... |
Long the drug war crusader, the U.S. was the driving force behind the 1961 treaty that formed the basis of international narcotics control. For decades the U.S. has required other nations to cooperate in the drug war or risk losing foreign aid, even as some Latin American countries ravaged by drug war violence criticized America for failing to curb its appetite for cocaine, marijuana and other substances.
Since 1996, nearly half the states have allowed medical use of marijuana despite federal laws banning it, and some states are considering following the lead of Washington state and Colorado in legalizing recreational use.

U.S. FEDERAL LAW: Illegal; Both Cannabis and Tetrahydrocannabinols, the active chemicals contained in Cannabis plants, are Schedule I in the United States.
This means they are federally illegal to cultivate, buy, possess, or distribute (sell, trade or give) in all forms (cannabis plants, extracts, hash, hash oil, thc, etc) except synthetic THC (Marinol) which is Schedule III. Learn more >>

U.S. STATE LAW(s):
Laws and Enforcement varies from state to state - Legal in two (2) states, Eighteen states and DC have enacted laws that legalized medical marijuana;
Several have Hemp laws but only in Colorado is anyone planting any seeds.
Learn more >>

Australia; No, but ... |
There is no current law allowing the medical use of cannabis in Australia, and the federal law regarding drug use places marijuana in Schedule I (the most restrictive category, which also includes heroin), meaning it has no legal medical use and cannot be prescribed by a doctor. Drugs in the other schedules are considered to have medical uses (for instance cocaine, morphine and methamphetamine) and can be prescribed. Cannabis users who claim to use the plant for medical purposes are treated the same as anyone else using non-industrial cannabis.
Like the US, Laws and Enforcement varies from state to state - Decriminalized for personal use in small amounts in the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
It is a criminal offence in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania; Tasmania, Victoria, & Queensland policies involve ticketing for below 50 grams.
Learn more >>

Canada, Yes
|
In 2002, Canada's federal government made several findings in favor of cannabis legalization and medical use approval. Although the status of medical cannabis is still in flux (sep 2002), the Canadian government has several times voiced its intention to support full medical use.
However, Busts in Canada continue, especially of larger growing and distribution operations.
Canada produces about 400 kg of medical cannabis annually. From 2002 until 2009 the marijuana was produced in an abandoned mine in Flin Flon, Manitoba. On April 19, 2005, the Canadian government additionally licensed the prescription sale of a natural marijuana extract - effectively liquid marijuana - called Sativex.

The federal department Health Canada now provides detailed advice (for its own citizens), including not only the medical information needed to make an informed choice, but the law enforcement aspects, and how to apply for authorization to possess marijuana for medical purposes.
There is also information that may be of help to the patient's health professional.
Learn more >>

Germany, Yes |
Dronabinol was rescheduled 1994 from annex I to annex II of the German Narcotics Law (Betäubungsmittelgesetz) in order to ease research; in 1998 dronabinol was rescheduled from annex II to annex III and since then has been available by prescription.
Cannabis is prohibited by the German BtMG (drug schedule), making it illegal to possess, cultivate, or sell. A reader comments that possession of 6 g or less is generally not prosecuted, and more or less may be tolerated, depending on the state. The northern states tend to be more permissive than the southern states, where amounts smaller than a gram may even be prosecuted.
Learn more >>

Israel, Yes |
A small number of people have been granted special permission to use cannabis for medical uses by the Health Ministry.
In 2004, the Israeli military began using THC, the active ingredient in cannabis for experimental treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of soldiers.
Cannabis is illegal for most purposes in Israel, though inactive hempseed oil is sold and available in some products. Medical prescriptions/licenses have been increasingly available from 2007 to 2010. See Israeli medical marijuana patients to pay as pot proves popular (Jan 19 2010), Israeli Medical Marijuana Policies (June 21 2009), Israel: Health Ministry To Expand Medical Marijuana Regulations (Dec 2 2009), Going to Pot (Apr 2007, the Jerusalem Post). (thanks rs,A,HmND) (last updated Jan 28 2010)
Learn more >>

Italy, Yes |
Cannabis preparations and THC are illegal to use, sell, own, cultivate etc. Personal use is decriminalized, with penalties for possession of small amounts (< 5g) resulting in confiscation of passport or driver's license. Possession of larger quantities is treated as possession with intent to sell and is subject to stronger penalties. (unconfirmed) In
2008, the Italian Supreme Court created a legal exception for personal use of cannabis by Rastafarians. See http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/abruzzo/supreme-court-lets-rastas-keep-their-weed and http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2008/jul/18/europe_rastafarians_can_smoke_ma. (thanks T)
Learn more >>

Jamaica, No, but ...
|
The island nation is a primary source of marijuana in the Caribbean. Possession remains illegal and can result in mandated treatment or rehabilitation, though usually the defendant pays a small fine and is not incarcerated.
Nevertheless, many young men wind up with criminal records that affect their future employment options, and recent changes in the U.S. and Uruguay have given momentum to activists who hope to see marijuana decriminalization approved soon.
Learn more >>

Japan, No |
Cannabis is prohibited under the Japanese Cannabis Control Act. However, viable cannabis seeds are available in headshop as of June 2005, selling for Y1300-Y2500 (12-23 USD) each. Growing the seeds is
illegal and the shops have warnings that the seeds are just curiosity samples and the shop will not answer questions about cultivation.
Learn more >>

Luxembourg, No, but ... |
In Luxembourg the law passed in April 2001 decriminalizes cannabis consumption, as well as its possession for personal use. The law
classifies substances into two categories: A (other substances under control) and B (cannabis).
Learn more >>

Malta, No |
Cannabis is illegal in Malta (Schedule 1). Possession for personal use
is subject to fine, but prison terms are usually given only for trafficking. (unconfirmed) (thanks EE)
Learn more >>

Mexico, No, but ... |
In Mexico, where tens of thousands have been killed in drug war violence in the past seven years, there is no general push to legalize or regulate marijuana for recreational use.
Yet, in August 2009, a new law decrminalized a number of drugs, including cannabis, with small quantities of cannabis (up to 5 grams) not prosecuted as crimes.
In more liberal Mexico City, a metropolis of 8 million, lawmakers have introduced a measure to allow stores to sell up to 5 grams of pot. The plan has the mayor's support but could set up a fight with the federal government.
Learn more >>

MOROCCO, No |
Morocco is one of the world's leading hashish producers, and nearly all of it makes its way into Europe. Cannabis was legal to grow as late as the 1950s by order of the king. Two leading political parties want to re-legalize its cultivation for medical and industrial uses,
with the goal of helping small farmers who survive on the crop but live at the mercy of drug lords and police attempts to eradicate it. There is little chance the conservative nation will legalize it for recreational use any time soon.
Learn more >>

Netherlands, Yes |
Cannabis has been available for recreational use in coffee shops since 1976. Thus it has also been available without a prescription for medical uses. In addition, since 2003 it is a legal prescription drug known as "Mediwiet", available at the pharmacy. There it costs more than in the coffee shop: ca. €9 per gram. It is important to note that
laws remain on the books classifying possession and sale as illegal, but due to a non-enforcement policy, it has been de facto legalized.
The Netherlands has long had some of the most liberal cannabis laws. Hoping to keep pot users away from dealers of harder drugs, the country in the late 1970s began allowing "coffee shops" to sell marijuana, which remains technically illegal. Since 2012 the federal government has clamped down, briefly requiring people to obtain a "weed pass" to buy cannabis and banning sales to tourists.
Although cannabis is technically illegal to possess and sell in the Netherlands, the government does not prosecute individuals (over 18) who smoke cannabis.
Some cities, including Amsterdam, have declined to ban sales to tourists, however, and mayors of 35 cities have banded together to call for the legalization of marijuana growing.
Possession of less than 5 grams or growing of less than 5 plants will not be prosecuted.
Learn more >>

New Zealand, No, not yet ... |
Former Health Minister Annette King has stated that she is not "unsympathetic to using cannabis in a medicinal form, but that's different to saying we should let everybody smoke it." Her official position is that more conclusive studies are needed, and a method of regulating dosage is necessary before she support medical access to cannabis.
Scott David Findlay, a paraplegic, was convicted of cannabis charges. The judge, Robert Spear (Dunedin District Court) offered to allow community service instead of imprisonment, but Findlay does not recognize the validity of New Zealand's cannabis laws and would not
perform community service. Judge Spear claimed this was a "hollow protest" that he was nonetheless allowed to make, and sentenced him to three months imprisonment.
On the 15th of June, 2006, Green MP Metiria Turei had her Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill drawn from the ballot but it was defeated on the first reading.
Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug in New Zealand. It is illegal to cultivate, possess, or sell.
Learn more >>

Norway, No |
Possession and cultivation of any THC substance is illegal and even small amounts can lead to heavy fines or jail. Although cannabis and its seeds are illegal in Norway including possession and sale, there is some exception for medical use.
There is, of course, a black market, and even some semi-organized pot rings for medicinal purposes.
We have been told that seed possession and sale are now (as of 2000) prohibited.
The penalty for possession of small quantities of Cannabis (less than 15 g) is normally 3000 NOK. For more than 15 g, higher penalties apply and can include community service and jail in some cases. The Norwegian police does not punish use, possession and distribution of Marijuana as harshly as hashish, and hashish in Norway is often adulterated with other ingredients.
Learn more >>

Pakistan / Peshawar, No, but ... |
We have been told that in Peshawar and the northern parts of Pakistan, smoking Hash (Charas) is socially acceptable and even sold on an open market where the government does not intrude. One can be jailed for up
to six months if they are caught with Charas in other parts of the country, but it's apparently very common to bribe the police with as little as $5-20 to get out of an arrest. We are also told that many shops have Charas behind the counter, but only sell to known customers.
Learn more >>

Spain, Yes |
In October 2005, the autonomous government in the region of Catalonia launched a program of therapeutical use of Sativex for 600 patients of a wide set of illnesses, from multiple sclerosis to cancer, in order to avoid nauseas or to relax tense muscles. The project involves six hospitals, forty researchers and sixty drugstores. The product is presented as an atomizer to be taken orally, and it will be delivered at drugstores inside some hospitals. The full text of the research initiative can be seen here, in Catalan, from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Otherwise, Cannabis is illegal in Spain, with small amounts punishable by fine. Larger amounts, cultivation, or sale are punishable by jail terms. Cannabis seeds are legal and are commonly available for purchase.
We have been told that while cannabis is illegal to buy or grow, it is legal to smoke in your own home.
Learn more >>

United Kingom (U.K., England, Great Britain), No ...
|
In 1999, a House of Lords inquiry recommended that cannabis be made available with a doctor's prescription. Though the government of the U.K. has not accepted the recommendations, new long-term clinical trials have been authorized. Sometimes juries have returned verdicts of "not guilty" for people charged with marijuana possession for medical use though there are many people in jail for the offence of possession, cultivation or supplying medical marijuana.
In 2003, the U.K. company GW Pharmaceuticals, which has been granted the exclusive licence to cultivate cannabis for medicinal trials, had hopes of obtaining regulatory approval for the manufacture and sale of a cannabis-based medicine in the United Kingdom starting in 2004. Such approval has not yet been forthcoming. In April 2005, however, its Sativex marijuana extract, which is produced in the United Kingdom, was licensed for prescription sale in Canada. Although it is not similarly licensed in the United Kingdom, it can be imported, back to the United Kingdom from Canada, for named-patient prescription use. (Named-patient prescription is a prescription process which registers the patient's name with the Home Office.)

House of Commons have confirmed that if you are a UK resident then you are not allowed to bring it into the country, not even for personal medical use under the Schengen Agreement. - see UKCIA. (Yet, you can possess and use it w/ Netherlands 'card'? < confirm!)
Cannabis was reclassified as a Class B drug in Britain in January 2009. Seeds are legal to posses but not legal to grow (unconfirmed).
Learn more >>

Erowid Cannabis Vault : Legal Status, U.S. LAW | Both Cannabis and Tetrahydrocannabinols, the active chemicals contained in Cannabis plants, are Schedule I in the United States. This means they are federally illegal to cultivate, buy, possess, or distribute (sell, trade or give) in all forms (cannabis plants, extracts, hash, hash oil, thc, etc) except synthetic THC (Marinol) which is Schedule III.
The federal scheduling of Cannabis was disputed in 1988 by Judge Francis Young, an administrative law judge for the DEA, who recommended that marijuana be reclassified as schedule II on the grounds that if a respectable minority of doctors endorse it, then it has a "currently accepted medical use".
Visit: http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_law.shtml

Legal and medical status of cannabis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | Cannabis is in Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, making it subject to special restrictions. Article 2 provides for the following, in reference to Schedule IV drugs:

A Party shall, if in its opinion the prevailing conditions in its country render it the most appropriate means of protecting the public health and welfare, prohibit the production, manufacture, export and import of, trade in, possession or use of any such drug except for amounts which may be necessary for medical and scientific research only, including clinical trials therewith to be conducted under or subject to the direct supervision and control of the Party.

This provision, while apparently providing for the limitation of cannabis to research purposes only, also seems to allow some latitude for nations to make their own judgments. The official Commentary on the Single Convention indicates that Parties are expected to make that judgment in good faith.
Click > here < for more.

Information and other Resources by Region and Nation
Click on a region below for a more detailed map, or try our Country view.

Map of Continents, Sub-continents and other Regions around the World
List of Continents, Sub-continents, major Countrys and others Regions around the World
Map of Countrys around the World
Feed Back for Getting back to us

Mozambique, No, but ... |
Cannabis is widely grown and tolerated. Possession is technically illegal but possession of small amounts can lead to a small fine in the
worst case when a user is smoking in public, but most often the user is warned to use cannabis in a private area.
Learn more >>

Poland, No |
Possession of cannabis is illegal in Poland. Even small amounts (1g) are not tolerated and penalties can be high. Since Jun 2005 according to the new law, a new resocialization program for drug addicts has been formed as a alternative to putting young people in prison. Cannabis is still a public enemy treated the same way as 'hard drugs'. (thanks RaN)
In 2006 an Erowid reader told us that possession of seeds is legal in Poland, and they are available through online vendors.
Learn more >>

Portugal, No, but ... |
Since 2001, possession of any drug for personal use has been decriminalized, though sale and trafficking are still criminal offenses. One can still be arrested and fined for using cannabis in public, or be accused of drug trafficking if in possession of more than 25 grams.
Effective July 2001, personal use of cannabis was decriminalized by Law 30/2000 (see text of law). Possession of less than 25 g leaves and flowering tops, 5 g resin, 2.5 g oil, or 500 mg THC is not regarded as a criminal offense, though the substance is liable to be seized and the possessor can be referred to mandatory treatment. Sale, or possession of quantities greater than the personal possession limit, are criminal offenses punishable by jail time.
Learn more >>

Romania, No |
According to a contributor: "Cannabis growing, possession or selling is prohibited. Seeds have no legal status (neither legal nor illegal). If you are caught with seeds they will take them and you will receive not more than a warning. Possession of small amounts (1-3 grams) is only
punishable by a small fine (~ $150-200). For bigger quantities possession or for growing (only for personal use) you can stay 3 or 6 years in prison. If you sell cannabis you can take over 6 years in prison."
Learn more >>

Russia, No |
Cannabis is a prohibited drug under Russian law. We have been told that the 2003 change to decriminalize personal possession of small amounts has been rescinded, but have been unable to confirm that.
Previously, in Dec 2003, personal possession of up to 20 g of cannabis was legalized (see article). (thanks o, QBM) (Last updated Oct 14 2011)
Learn more >>

Singapore |
Cannabis is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, making it
illegal to cultivate, sell, or possess.
Learn more >>

South America, Yes and No |
see South American Medical Cannabis Laws
Learn more >>

South Africa, No, not yet ... |
Prof. Frances Ames completed her research in 1958 (a rather outdated study).
Further medical research is currently being performed by the University of the Western Cape by Dr John Thomas.
Learn more >>

Sweden, No |
Cannabis has no officially recognized medical usage and medical use is not seen as an extenuating circumstance. Yet, Cannabinoid mouth spray Sativex that is derived from cannabis plants was approved in Sweden for the treatment of spasticity due to Multiple Sclerosis on 22 December 2011, and Research on cannabinoids is done at the famous Karolinska Institute.
Possession and sale of cannabis are illegal in Sweden. Possession of up to 50 g usually results in a fine, 50 to 2500 g usually leads to 2 weeks to 1 year imprisonment, more than 2.5 kg generally results in 2 years - 10 years imprisonment.
Learn more >>

Switzerland; No, but ... |
Though all possession and cultivation remains illegal in all parts of the country, coffee shops can still be found in Bienne and Interlaken.
On the whole, people possessing small doses are very rarely prosecuted.
Learn more >>

Taiwan, No |
Cannabis is a schedule 2 narcotic in Taiwan,
and possession can result in up to 3 years imprisonment.
Learn more >>

Thailand; No, but ... |
Cannabis is illegal in Thailand and penalties for possession can be harsh. Yet, Large numbers of cannabis consumers continue to be
reported, probably due to the ease of growing marijuana.
Learn more >>

Uruguay, Not offcially, but ... |
In December, Uruguay became the first nation to approve marijuana legalization and regulation. President Jose Mujica said his goal is to drive drug traffickers out of the dope business and reduce consumption by creating a safe, legal and transparent environment in which the state closely monitors every aspect of marijuana use.
By April, Uruguay is expected to have written the fine print on its regulations. Once registered and licensed, any Uruguayan adult will be allowed to choose one of three options: grow plants at home, or join a pot-growing club, or buy marijuana cigarettes from pharmacies.
Learn more >>

When Mexican President Vincente Fox bowed to U.S. pressure and refused
to sign a bill that would have legalized the personal possession of all
drugs, DrugSense was there. When England nearly re-criminalized the
adult possession of cannabis, DrugSense was there. When American and
Canadian activists, researchers, politicians and drug policy reformers
organized a counter-symposium in Montreal to protest the DEA's
International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC), DrugSense was there.
DrugSense.org/donate.

Whether it's decriminalization efforts in Mexico or Canada, the
rejection of drug interdiction funding by Latin America, or ongoing
harm reduction efforts in Europe, DrugSense/MAP is there to help
organize these international efforts.

For example, they created a Canadian media contact list for the recent
IDEC counter-conference in Montreal using their powerful and
comprehensive Media Contact on Demand mapinc.org/mcod/.
Coverage of this conference was then tracked through their MAP DrugNews
Archive of drug-related articles from around the world
(drugnews.org), which now tops 164,000 clippings and
counting!

In fact, about half of the news articles received and posted by MAP are
from outside of the U.S., and DrugSense has been integral in starting
up Canadian, German, French, and Dutch versions of its popular Media
Awareness Project.

The progress made by other nations toward evidence-based drug policy
may represent one of the best tools to push for positive change in the
U.S. So, although DrugSense/MAP continues to focus on American drug
policy reform, they have long been aware of the importance of assisting
reformers all over the world.

But, if DrugSense/MAP is to continue to provide news and services to
the international drug policy reform community - like the Mercy Center - and to use
international pressure to push for U.S. reform, they need YOUR help right
now!

Please donate today!
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No doubt you are a busy person. You have work, school, family, and a
host of other commitments. If you are like many people today, you
sometimes feel as if you have very little time to do the things you
want to do or even feel you should do.

At the same time, you agree that the War on (some) Drugs has become a
disastrous failure. Maybe a relative received a long sentence for minor
drug possession. Perhaps an injured friend has problems finding adequate
pain relief. A loyal employee you know might be required to prove his
innocence by taking a drug test.

You know you want to make a difference, but what can you do?
DrugSense has some answers. Here is how you can change the world in
just a few minutes per week.

* Help us Newshawk articles about drug policy. Newshawks are
individuals who find drug-policy-related articles in newspapers and
magazines, or on selected Websites, and forward those articles to us
using a special format. The more articles we have, the more powerful
our DrugNews Archive (www.drugnews.org)
becomes as a voice for
fairness and honesty. You can help build this incredible resource with
just a few minutes of Internet surfing. For more
information, please see mapinc.org/hawk.htm

* Help us format articles for archival storage. The true power of the
DrugNews archive rests in its ability to store drug policy articles
long after they have disappeared from their source Websites. Putting
these articles in a uniform format and appending correct attributions
to them makes the archive a powerful research tool. This, too, helps
promote the truth about drugs and drug policy and will likely take no
more than a few hours of your time per week. You can give formatting as
much or as little time as you have, but rest peacefully in the
knowledge that you made a difference. Those who provide volunteer
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* Donate to DrugSense. Some people have more money than they have time.

Monetary contributions can be a powerful force for social change.
DrugSense is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that provides accurate
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Your dollars go toward supporting
these integrated services designed to bring the truth to the media
about drug policy and end the War on Drugs.

Central American presidents are convening in Guatemala to discuss alternative strategies to the failed war on drugs. The host of the meeting, President Otto Perez Molina, has said that all options, including decriminalization and legal regulation, will be on the table.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a growing number of former presidents and prime ministers denounce the drug war and call for breaking the taboo on discussing alternatives to failed prohibitionist policies. But now, we’re hearing the same calls from current presidents and prime ministers.

When travelling to Guatemala and Mexico a few weeks ago to meet with business leaders and top officials, activsts were struck by the growing number of prominent individuals who at last are willing to speak out. They’re fed up with U.S. government demands that they persist with policies that are so obviously ineffective and counter-productive. And they are emboldened by the rapidly growing number of leaders who dare to speak truth to power.
When Vice President Biden visited the region a few weeks ago, he acknowledged that legalization was now a legitimate subject of debate -- even as he insisted the Obama administration still firmly opposes legalization. That acknowledgement represented a modest but important new step forward. We know, however, that U.S. officials are doing whatever they can behind the scenes to suppress this discussion.

An overwhelming majority of Americans know the war on drugs is a complete failure and half of all Americans want marijuana legalized. We are on the cusp of a tipping point. Latin American leaders need to know that tens of millions of Americans support their efforts to open the debate, and that U.S. diplomats and other officials no longer represent the majority of Americans on this issue. Encourage them to push forward with drug policy reform today!
Despite the U.S. government’s steadfast refusal to part ways with the status quo, the momentum among people in the U.S. and Central America to consider drug war alternatives only continues to grow. In advance of the meeting tomorrow, we need to encourage Latin America to continue to push for drug policy reform -- take action now!

Portugal drug law show results ten years on
-
The Associated Free Press |
LISBON — Health experts in Portugal claim that Portugal's decision 10
years ago to decriminalise drug use and treat dependent users rather than
punishing them is an experiment that has worked.

"There is no doubt that the phenomenon of addiction is in decline in
Portugal," said Joao Goulao, President of the Institute of Drugs and Drugs
Addiction, a press conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the law. The
number of dependent users considered "problematic" -- those who repeatedly
use "hard" drugs and intravenous users -- had fallen by half since the
early 1990s, when the figure was estimated at around 100,000 people,
Goulao said. Other factors had also played their part however, Goulao, a
medical doctor added.

"This development can not only be attributed to decriminalisation but to a
confluence of treatment and risk reduction policies."

Portugal's holistic approach had also led to a "spectacular" reduction in
the number of infections among intravenous users and a significant drop in
drug-related crimes, he added. A law that became active on July 1, 2001
did not legalise drug use, but forced users caught with banned substances
to appear in front of special addiction panels rather than in a criminal
court.
The panels composed of psychologists, judges and social workers
recommended action based on the specifics of each case. Since then,
government panels have recommended a response based largely on whether the
individual is an occasional drug user or an addict. Of the nearly 40,000
people currently being treated, "the vast majority of problematic users
are today supported by a system that does not treat them as delinquents
but as sick people," Goulao said.

In a report published in June 2011, the European Monitoring Centre for
Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) said Portugal had dealt with this issue
"in a pragmatic and innovative way." Drug use statistics in Portugal are
generally "below the European average and much lower than its only
European neighbour, Spain," the report also said.
"The changes that were
made in Portugal provide an interesting before-and-after study on the
possible effects of decriminalisation," EMCDDA said.
Visit - http://idpc.net/alerts/portugal-drug-law-worked.

FindLaw »
Criminal Law »
Criminal Charges »
Medical Marijuana - An Overview
| The term "medical marijuana" refers to the use, possession, and/or cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes. People who are terminally ill, or suffer from painful or long-term symptoms associated with certain diseases, such as epilepsy, AIDS, glaucoma, and cancer, often request medical marijuana as a form of treatment and/or pain relief.
As a general principle, medical marijuana, also known as medicinal cannabis, is no different than standard marijuana. Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is classified as a "Schedule I drug", meaning it: 1) has the potential for abuse, 2) has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S., and 3) has a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision.
... Visit - http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/medical-marijuana-an-overview.html?DCMP=ADC-CRIM_Drugs-MedMarijuanaGen&HBX_PK=medical+marijuana.

Home -- International Cannagraphic Magazine
| Home Section of International Cannagraphic Magazine.
Welcome to the International Cannagraphic, a global community of cannabis growers, activists, business entrepreneurs, photographers, breeders, vendors and medical patients. International Cannagraphic Magazine features stories and videos about cannabis growing around the world.
... Medical Cannabis News Forum · Dr. Jay's Medicinal Marijuana Forum · Cooking with Cannabis ...
... Visit - http://www.icmag.com/.

International Cannabis News: 420 MAGAZINE (www.420magazine.com)
|
Category Archives: International Cannabis News:
Netherlands Marijuana Ban On Tourists;
A policy barring foreign tourists from buying marijuana in the Netherlands went into effect in parts of the country Tuesday, with attention focused on the southern city of Maastricht, where a cafe was warned over violating the ban and around.
Bangladeshi Man Sentenced To Life For Attemping To Smuggle Cannabis;
The Criminal Court has sentenced a Bangladeshi national to life, after the court found him guilty of attempting to smuggle cannabis into the Maldives. According to police, the man was charged with attempting to smuggle drugs on October 2010.
President Obama’s Puzzling Silence on Marijuana;
“Dance with the One that Brought You” is the title of a well-known song. But the Urban Dictionary offers a deeper meaning: “The principle that someone should pay proper fealty to those who have gone out of their way to… [Continue Reading]
420 Magazine Medical Marijuana Social Networking Community Forums Blogs Daily Cannabis Hemp News, Facts, Information and Entertainment with Grow Journals Photo ...
... Visit - http://www.420magazine.com/cannabis-facts-and-information/international-cannabis-news/.

International Medical Marijuana News | Colorado MMJ Daily
>>
Forums:
Medical Marijuana
Check out this article!!
LONDON - A British pharmaceutical company was working Wednesday to develop a new breed of cannabis-based products aimed at treating a range of conditions including diabetes, epilepsy and Crohn''s disease.
GW Pharmaceuticals, which launched a cannabis-derived medicine for symptoms of multiple sclerosis last year, has cross-bred different types of the plant to produce a new strain that could treat a wide range of disorders.
... Visit - http://www.colommjdaily.com/international-medical-marijuana-news.

In days, a group of powerful world leaders will ask the UN to end
the war on drugs and move towards regulation. But politicians say
that the public will not support alternative drug policies. Let's
give this unique opportunity massive public support and get urgent
action. Follow this link below -

- and tell everyone you know about it. Then everyone you don't know ... yet!
In days, we could finally see the beginning of the end of the 'war
on drugs'. This expensive war has completely failed to curb the
plague of drug addiction, while costing countless lives, devastating
communities, and funneling trillions of dollars into violent
organized crime networks.

Experts all agree that the most sensible policy is to regulate, but
politicians are afraid to touch the issue. In days, a global
commission including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs
of the UN, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and
publicly call for new approaches including decriminalization and
regulation of drugs.
This could be a once-in-a-generation tipping-point moment -- if
enough of us call for an end to this madness. Politicians say they
understand that the war on drugs has failed, but claim the public
isn't ready for an alternative. Let's show them we not only accept a
sane and humane policy -- we demand it. Click below to sign the
petition and share with everyone --if we reach 1 million voices, it
will be personally delivered to world leaders by the global
commission -

- and Act Now! to End Medical Cannabis Prohibition around the World by Stopping the War on (Some of the People doing Some of the) Drugs. For 50 years current drug policies have failed everyone, everywhere
but public debate is stuck in the mud of fear and misinformation.
Everyone, even the UN Office on Drugs and Crime which is responsible
for enforcing this approach agrees -- deploying militaries and
police to burn drug farms, hunting down traffickers, and imprisoning
dealers and addicts - is an expensive mistake. And with massive
human cost -- from Afghanistan, to Mexico, to the USA the illegal
drug trade is destroying countries around the world, while
addiction, overdose deaths, and HIV/AIDS infections continue to rise.
Meanwhile, countries with less-harsh enforcement -- like
Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Australia -- have not
seen the explosion in drug use that proponents of the drug war have
darkly predicted. Instead, they have seen significant reductions in
drug-related crime, addiction and deaths, and are able to focus
squarely on dismantling criminal empires.

Powerful lobbies still stand in the way of change, including
military, law enforcement, and prison departments whose budgets are
at stake. And politicians fear that voters will throw them out of
office if they support alternative approaches, as they will appear
weak on law and order. Many former drug Ministers and Heads of State
have come out in favour of reform since leaving office, and polls
show that citizens across the world know the current approach is a
catastrophe. Momentum is gathering towards new improved policies,
particularly in regions that are ravaged by the drug trade.
If we can create a worldwide outcry in the next few days to support
the bold calls of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, we can
overpower the stale excuses for the status quo. Our voices hold the
key to change -- Sign the petition and spread the word, visit -

- and Spread The Word! We have a chance to enter the closing chapter of this brutal 'war'
that has destroyed millions of lives.
Global public opinion will
determine if this catastrophic policy is stopped or if politicians
shy away from reform. Let's rally urgently to push our hesitating
leaders from doubt and fear, over the edge, and into reason.

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donate here.

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to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape
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languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our
team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in
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